System for communication, optimization and demand control for an appliance

Abstract

A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication mechanism comprising:
 a smart device; and   a control device connected to an appliance; and   wherein:   control of the appliance is effected with signals between the smart device and the control device;   the control device comprises optimization software for the appliance; and   a basis for power for the appliance is selected from a group consisting of electricity, natural gas, propane, oil, kerosene, coal, and wood;   the optimization software comprises one or more items selected from a group consisting of reduced operating costs of the appliance, usage pattern based optimization, prognostics for performance over time, maintenance alarms, performance optimization alerts, and demand response management for load shedding; and   the appliance is a water heater.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control device comprises a communication module, that is powered by a source selected from a group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, a line power outlet, an appliance control power outlet, a solar cell, and a flame/heat/thermo cell; and   the appliance is powered by one or more sources selected from a group consisting of a line power outlet, thermopiles, solar panels, wind generators, rechargeable batteries, and energy harvesting systems.   
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a smart device is selected from a group consisting of a Kindle™, Ipad™, PC, laptop, notebook, tablet, PDA, Wi-Fi™ router, and smart phone. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the control device has a wireless connection with the appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the control device has a wire connection with the appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the control device is embedded in a control unit of the appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the smart device can control two or more appliances with two or more control devices connected to the two or more appliances, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein set points of the appliance are changeable with the smart device via the control device. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the control module can interface with a thermostat to perform a function with the smart device, control a set point of the appliance, to read a home heating and cooling schedule on another smart device and apply the home heating and cooling schedule to an appliance usage profile. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the smart device can read settings of a thermostat, and settings of the appliance that impact hot water demand, and apply the settings to a schedule and usage profile of the appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a control knob for selecting a level amount of hot water demand or temperature of hot water. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more accessories connected to the appliance; and   wherein the one or more accessories have communications for one or more items selected from a group consisting of water shutoff valves, fuel valves, stand alone MMI, and power switches; and   the communications are effected by one or more items selected from a group consisting of relay outputs, transistor outputs, RF outputs and light outputs.   
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling a water heater comprising:
 creating a periodic water usage profile from water usage and temperature data from a water heater with a profiling program;   loading the periodic water usage profile to a control for a water heater;   selecting a mode of demand, at the control for the water heater, for a certain amount of water within a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater;   creating a learning program having an enablement option for an update of the periodic water usage profile, water temperature and mode of demand for water from the water heater; and   loading the update of the periodic water usage profile, water temperature and mode of demand for water to the control for the water heater device; and   wherein a basis for power for the water heater is selected from a group consisting of electricity, natural gas, propane, oil, kerosene, coal, and wood.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 if the enablement option of the learning program is engaged, then a monitoring of water usage, temperature and demand for water from the water heater occurs for X days; and   an update of the periodic water usage profile, water temperature and mode of demand for water based on the monitoring for X days is loaded to the control for the water heater device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein if an enablement option of learning program is not engaged, then the water heater operates according to a predetermined program for one or more items selected from a group consisting of water usage and water temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 collecting data related to water usage, temperature and demand; and   calculating statistics for usage, demand and adjustment over time; and   wherein:   a daily usage profile and margin of error are determined and updated;   a weekly usage routine for day by day usage pattern is determined and updated; and   more usage increases a confidence level in the daily usage profile and weekly usage routine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein if the basis for power for the water heater is electricity, the water heater benefits from a flexibility of having one, two or more heating elements being selected to be energized. 
     
     
         18 . A communication system comprising:
 a control device connected to an appliance; and   a control knob; and   wherein:   control of the appliance is effected with signals between control knob and the control device;   the control device comprises optimization software for the appliance;   a basis for power for the appliance is selected from a group consisting of electricity, natural gas, propane, oil, kerosene, coal, and wood;   the optimization software comprises one or more items selected from a group consisting of reduced operating costs of the appliance, usage pattern based optimization, prognostics for performance over time, maintenance alarms, performance optimization alerts, and demand response management for load shedding; and   the appliance is a water heater.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a control knob is used to select a magnitude of hot water demand or temperature of hot water; and   the demand is based on one or more items selected from group consisting of usage patterns and user programmed patterns.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 one or more accessories connected to the appliance; and   wherein:   the one or more accessories have communications for one or more items selected from a group consisting of water shutoff valves, fuel valves, stand-alone MMI, and power switches;   the control device comprises a communication module that is powered by a source selected from a group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, a line power outlet, an appliance control power outlet, a solar cell, and a flame/heat/thermo cell; and   the appliance is powered by one or more sources selected from a group consisting of a line power outlet, thermopiles, solar panels, wind generators, rechargeable batteries, and energy harvesting systems.